A Biblical Understanding of Leisure, pt 2

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Point Two: The sinful temptation of leisure

• To idolize leisure - leisure and pleasure become ends in themselves
• Ecclesiastes 2:1-2
• Leisure becomes idolatry when it absorbs the time, affections, and resources that belong to God and his purposes.
• To neglect leisure - for the pursuit of work and acquisition
• A root is self-sufficiency; "my success depends solely on myself." God is completely left out of the equation. To leave nothing to chance is actually to leave nothing to God.
• Rest reflects a trust in God. This can be a particular temptation to mothers who incessantly serve their families but can neglect rest and refreshment. It's a particular temptation when what you are doing is commanded by God. Nothing is more noble, but you must be alert to the dangers of self-sufficiency. When everything is on your shoulders so you neglect rest, you are sinning - depending on yourself and not receiving the grace of God.
• To waste it.
• Laziness is a sin. Leisure is not a sin.
• Empty, sinful pursuits can disguise themselves as leisure.
• Leisure is not "vegging out."

photo: Conestoga House and Gardens, 2010

A Biblical Understanding of Leisure, pt 1

I came across a sermon called A Biblical Understanding of Leisure, preached by Jeff Purswell at Covenant Life Church a while back (CJ was still senior pastor). I listened to it near the end of our family vacation this week and took over two pages of typed notes. It was a very good reminder to me, so I'm going to put notes up from his three main points in three separate blog posts. This sermon was the fourth in a series they did called Sanctifying the Ordinary: Sleep, work, food, leisure; Behind all that appears ordinary is an extraordinary God. I am interested in finding the other sermons as well.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Point One: The divine intention of leisure

• Components of leisure
• Rest and relaxation from the toils of life
• We are creatures; God is creator. We need rest. God doesn't need to rest. We need more than just sleep. We need rest from our toils and obligations of life that vie for our attention.
• Exodus 20:8
• God prescribes times where people halt productive activities. Life is not meant to consist of duties solely to produce. God provides us leisure as a gift, as a break from our work. He's created life to be a rhythm between work and leisure.
• Psalm 23:1-3 - "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want...He restores my soul." Does that describe your life on Tuesday at 2:45 - green pastures, still waters, soul restored? Is your soul regularly restored or frenzied? Work is a gift and calling, but work in a fallen world is hard.
• It takes faith to rest, sometimes more than to work. It requires us to trust that when I'm not working, God is working. God remains at work. It's really an expression of humility and faith in God. We make a statement when we rest - "God, I refuse to trust in my labors. I know that my work is important, but ultimately all my labor comes from you anyway. I am dependent upon you, and I'm grateful for this rest." When you stop, you draw a circle around your creatureness. That kind of faith will bring rest to your souls.
• Enjoyment and celebration
• God commands us to be happy (Psalm 37:4, Psalm 16:11). God centered pleasure is not just available, but commanded. This is not just limited to "spiritual" activities. God's entire creation is given to us to enjoy.
• Deepening our awareness of and gratitude towards God
• The pause of leisure clears our minds. It allows for a realignment of our perspective. Severed from God, leisure is a mirage. It becomes empty and trivial. It only leaves someone with a craving for more leisure. But our awareness of God and enjoyment of our leisure is enhanced when centered on God.
• Especially in a culture like our's, leisure (like every other area) is not immune to our sinful tendencies.
• The Church has had really very little to say about leisure. And whenever the Church refuses to think about an area, it will inevitably end up imitating the culture in that area.

photo: Conestoga House and Gardens, 2010

vacation

Ever struggle to trust God because you are going on vacation for a week? yeah, me too. This coming week is the first time I'll be away from the office for that long since I started working over a year ago. And yesterday it was a particular struggle to not be anxious about all the things left undone and all the potential build up that will happen while I am gone. I think it uncovers a reality that I do not completely trust God in my work when I am doing it. So it is good to step back and see that my work really is not about me and my efforts, but God. He will handle things when I'm gone and be my strength and helper when I return, no matter how overwhelming a flooded email inbox or office bin is. This life is all about my Lord, and vacation can be a good reminder of that.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. - Colossians 1:15-20.

I am looking forward to enjoying this week and praising God for his many blessings. I get to celebrate the wedding of two good friends today, which my brother is in; sit under God's Word, worship, fellowship at a picnic, and just enjoy my church family tomorrow; and soak in some long awaited time focused on my family for an entire week. "Indeed, for such blessings He should be adored and honored supremely as eminent Lord" (Milton Vincent; A Gospel Primer).

photo: Vernazza, Italy 2007

Consider, and Boast in Christ

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future - all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. - 1 Corinthians 3:21-22

photo: Tuscany, Italy 2007

Sin or Sickness?

This past winter, I took a Vital Life class at church called Counseling for Everyday Life. Bill loaded us up with plenty of reading material and messages, including Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands. One of the articles was by Ed Welch, called Sin or Sickness? Biblical Counseling and the Medical Model. The last paragraph of this article has been extremely helpful to me, and I've referenced it in multiple conversations since reading it. It's come up twice within this past week, and I thought I would share it here.

The resulting model, which includes the medical evidence without sacrificing a biblical view of personal responsibility, shows the heart and body in a dynamic interaction (Figure 1) and allows for various possibilities. For example, sin (from the heart) can make some people feel depressed (body), e.g. Psalm 32. The physical experience of depression can then influence the heart in such a way that the heart chooses hopelessness over faith, and the cycle might become a downward spiral. Another possibility is that a person may have had a disease that feels like depression (fatigue, feeling blue, concentration problems). The physical feelings then can influence the heart in such a way that the heart is more susceptible to forsaking biblical hope. Of course, the cycle can be stopped through repentance, faith, and obedience, in which case the physical symptoms may persist but no longer have the same power over the heart. The cycle also can be affected by treating the physical symptoms with available medical treatments.

I have found much help in this clear description of the interplay between sin, suffering, and repentance. It has helped me to acknowledge physical realities and see that my hope is not in the end of suffering, but in the power of God's grace to keep me from sin and at peace in the midst of the "heated" circumstances of discomfort and suffering. Although temptation to sin may increase from a physical reality, I am no longer a slave to sin but Christ's power is at work in me to lead me to repentance and faith - to freedom even if my body is still experiencing the effects of decay because of the fall.

And on top of that, as if that weren't enough, oh how sweet it is if/when God chooses to grant relief from that suffering. I no longer see it as something I "deserve" (to be perfectly healthy and without the "heat"/temptation to sin), but as an outpouring of His lavishly rich and kind grace on me. Our God is a loving Father!

You keep him in perfect peace

whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3

Today

This is the day that the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

- Psalm 118:24

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

- Lamentations 3:22-23

photo: Adele & Friedemann Wegert, Thanksgiving 2007

Take Another Look

Today's message at church was on John 12:20-37 and was called "Take Another Look." I typed out some of the notes that stood out to me, and I'm putting some of them up here.

1. Seeing Jesus will cost everything in this life
2. Unbelief sees what it wants to see

So these came to Phillip... and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." ... And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life (parts of John 12:21-26).

You can see Jesus Christ glorified, but it will cost you your life. When you see him crucified, it will make you hate this life. It's costly, but it's well worth it. What have we given up for Christ that will not be given to us many times over?

Christ is strong, and that is what makes his death amazing. See his suffering and death as his glorification.

Do we have the vision of Christ crucified and see it as glorious?

One clear look at the glorified Christ and this life should be ruined for us. Our hopes and dreams are not here.

Where are you struggling and discouraged? Here is the answer for you - take another clear look at Christ crucified and glorified.

I was encouraged and reminded that following Christ is following him in his death but also seeing his glory. It's not only about dying, but it's about dying so that I might gain abundant life in Christ.

Only Jesus! Only Jesus!

Give us Jesus, we cry

Only Jesus! Only Jesus!

The Pearl of greatest price

(c) 2005 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)

Only Jesus